Frank McGuire under pressure to vacate Broadmeadows seat

Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire is facing internal pressure to vacate his safe Labor seat, as right-aligned factions within Victorian Labor are being called on to nominate more women.

Frank McGuire at the official opening of the town hall in Broadmeadows in 2019. Picture: Ellen Smith

Broadmeadows Labor MP Frank McGuire is facing internal pressure to vacate his safe Labor seat, with the brother of former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire among those being considered to make way for renewal of the party.

The Herald Sun can reveal right-aligned factions within Victorian Labor are facing increased pressure to nominate more women as they haggle over candidates for the 2022 state election.

It is understood Premier Daniel Andrews’ Socialist Left faction has asked them to do their “fair share” in terms of ensuring the party meets its quotas for gender diversity.

Because of this, a group of MPs are in the firing line as factional leaders jostle for safe new seats to set up candidates.

It is also expected female candidates could replace outgoing MPs John Eren and Danielle Green.

Mr McGuire is among the names of Labor MPs being mentioned, with discussions underway about how he might vacate his current seat.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Pascoe Vale state Labor MP Lizzie Blandthorn at Glenroy West Primary School. Source: Supplied

One plan being canvassed is that Pascoe Vale MP Lizzie Blandthorn move into the spot, with a redistribution meaning a chunk of her current electorate now falls under Broadmeadows’ boundaries.

Broadmeadows was won by a margin of more than 30 per cent at the last election compared to 8.6 per cent in Pascoe Vale.

A delegation of MPs is expected to talk to Mr McGuire about his future next week.

Among the frustrations voices by party figures is that he did not move full-time into the electorate.

“Frank was brought in as a rock star candidate,” one Labor source said.

“After a decade in parliament, it’s about time Frank gave an opportunity to someone else or a future minister.”

Mr McGuire did not respond when contacted by the Herald Sun.

If Ms Blandthorn moved to Broadmeadows, a high-profile candidate would be considered to fight off the Greens or local independents after swings at the last election

The premier this week wrote to Labor’s national executive extending the timeline for when preselections must be completed by a week to December 10.

In the letter, he flagged five MPs had already stepped down and that there may be others to come.